Bradley, C. M.Cyril Montague Bradley
had served with the Territorials and was a Lieutenant in the 237th Brigade
(CWGC says HQ 296th) of the Royal Horse Artillery/the
Royal Field Artillery. Educated at Dover College and a
keen rifle shot, having twice been in a team competing
for the Ashburton Shield, he had received his commission
on October 1914. He was killed in action near Peronne, France, on
2nd April 1917, aged 20, while his father was serving at
Dundalk. He is buried at Tincourt New
British Cemetery in France.

He was the second son of Sir Augustus Montague Bradley,
who was born at Dover on 23 April 1865. Mr Bradley was
knighted in 1910 for public services, mainly in
connection with theTerritorial Army. Before obtaining
his Bachelor of Laws in London he attended Dover
College. He began business as a solicitor in Dover in
1887, and a year later joined the Cinque Ports Royal
Garrison Artillery Volunteers, eventually becoming their
commander, and continuing to command a territorial
brigaded when they became the RFA, He was also a
Liberal, standing for Parliament, and, like his father
before him, Chairman of the Dover
Liberal
Association as well as a Town Councillor. In 1894 at St
James Church Mr Bradley married Hilda, the daughter of
Mr Sydenham Payn, who was for many years the Borough
Coroner. Their
address was Grovedale, Natal, South Africa. The index
card gives a note of "G" (or possibly "C") as the
initial of a parent.

Sir Augustus was the youngest son of John Lade Bradley
JP, who, with his brother, William, formed the
corn merchants Bradley Bros. William died in 1882 whilst
serving as Mayor of Sandwich; after John died on 22
April 1915 the business was taken over mainly by his
sons William and Edwin. John was also Mayor in 1881-82,
but of Dover, holding office held office when the
Connaught Hall and Connaught Park were constructed. In
1948, at the age of 83, he is recorded as learning how
to fly.

The gravestone,
right, is that of Sir Augustus at Port Elizabeth, South
Africa who died
on 9 June 1953. The couple had lived in South Africa for
many years; the address given to the CWGC was Grovedale,
Natal, South Africa.

illustration courtesy Janet Melville

Bradley, G. L. H.
George Lynton Howis Bradley was born in Dover, early
1888, the eldest son of Edwin, corn merchant, and Emmeline
Bradley, then from 4 Castlemount Terrace. He was a Dover
College boy (an "Old Dovorian"), and, like his brothers,
one of the Bisley Shooting Eight.

He was an AMICE, and during the Great War, he served in the
Royal Engineers as a Second Lieutenant. He had been
invalided home after the Battle of Loos, and had been
seriously ill for some time. He never completely
regained his health.
He died on Monday, 11th August 1924 at Leyburn House,
Dover, and according to
a contemporary report, "at the end, death came
suddenly".
His funeral was on Thursday, 14th August, and he was
buried at St James.

He was
brother to Geoffrey, below.

with thanks to Joyce Banks for death and
college details

Bradley, G. M.Geoffrey Montagu Bradley
was a Lieutenant from the 6th battalion of the Rifle
Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), attached to Welsh
Rifles. In a communication from the War Office, around
April 1915, his father, Edwin, was informed that Lt
Bradley was reported missing, and believed killed, on
21/22 December 1914 after taking part in a night attack
on the enemy position at Festubert, France. He was last
seen under heavy fire. He was 21, and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

Before enlisting he had been an Old
Dovorian (Dover College boy), and had attended Jesus College,
Cambridge. There he had been Captain of the University
Shooting Eight. Baptised at St James on 27th April 1893,
he was the son of Edwin and Emmeline Mary Bradley
of Leyburn House, Dover, also 21 Fougate Street,
Stafford, Dnd brother of George, above.

There is a
further inscription beneath, mainly obscured. It
may say:Beloved sons of Edwin and Emmeline Mary
Bradleybeneath are further words, of
which "We Commit" are the
only ones readable

Edwin Bradley JP died 3rd Dec
1945 aged 87 years

Emmeline Mary Bradley died
30th Dec 1956 aged 91 years

with thanks for
transcription to Joyce Banks

Brand, B. J.Born at St
John's, Chatham, (St Paul's according to attestation in
1890) Benjamin James Brand,
S/32, enlisted in Dover and was a Sergeant in 6th
battalion of The Buffs. He was killed in action at the battle of Loos on 26
September 1915. He lies at the Calvaire
(Essex) Military Cemetery, Belgium, III D 1. At the foot
of his gravestone are the words, "One of the best. From
dear mother and father.".

Aged 42 at the time of his death, he was the son of
Benjamin John Brand and his wife Ellen, née North, who
had married in 1871.
In 1881 the family were at Coppard Gap, Portslade,
Steyning, Sussex, where Mr Brand was a merchant seaman.
Benjamin and Madeline Emma, born 1879, were then at
home.

In 1891 the family were living at St John's Place,
Snargate Street, Dover. Mr Brand was a general labourer, while Benjamin
had become a port messenger. There were two new children; Ellen
Violet, born
1884, and William John, born 1889. In 1901 they had
moved to 20 Winchelsea Terrace, with Mr Brand working as
a Tug's Mate. By 1906 they were living at 178 Clarendon
Street. In 1911 Mr Brand was in Yorkshire, as
master of a coast vessel, Lighter Reve. He states that
there had been ten children in the family, of whom five
had died. Mrs Brand, meanwhile, was at Fyfield House,
Cobham, Gravesend, with Madeline and Ellen. Ellen died
in 1916, aged 32. Mr and Mrs Brand by 1924 had
moved to 10 Chapel Place, Dover. They also lived at 30
Oxenden Street.

Benjamin attested as a Private 3576 on 24 November 1890
for the East Kent Regiment but was discharged by
purchase with a good character on 17 April 1891. On
attestation he was recorded as having blue eyes and
brown hair, and as being a Wesleyan. He was then living
in Folkestone and was a baker. In July 1892 he attested
again, this time for the Royal West Kent Regiment,
giving his trade as a Dyer and Cleaner, and his church
as C of E. He had a "B" tattooed on the back of his left
wrist. He joined at Shorncliffe. He served at home for
seven years; in 1892 he was in Londonderry. In 1896 he
seems to be on the electoral roll at 10 Round Tower
Lane, Dover. Serving in Dublin that year he slightly
blotted his good record by overstaying his pass and
being being improperly dressed on 5 March and again
overstaying his pass in July. He was demoted to Private
from Lance Corporal. He also was fined five
shillings for using profane and obscene language in a
public street, Sackville Street, on 3 September, and was
noted as absent from tattoo on 23 September. It would be
three years before he had another slip, by
overstaying his pass and borrowing a Lt Nunn's bicycle
without permission on 28 April 1899 in Gravesend.

He was
transferred to the Reserve on 13 July 1899, having grown
to 5'8" tall. He hoped to be employed as a warder at a
civil prison, and was described as a trustworthy man.
Failing this employment he claimed experience in dying
and cleaning and as a food waiter, having been for four
years an Officers' Mess waiter, and one year a
manservant. He intended to live at 3 Collis Street,
Brompton Lane, Strood. On 14 August 1899 he married
Agnes Taylor at St Vincent Roman Catholic Church,
Glasgow. On Boxing Day that year he was recalled to Army service.

Benjamin went to South Africa to serve in the war there
on 16 March 1900, returning on 11 September 1902. He
then served at home until he was discharged,
having completed his first period of engagement, from the
Royal West Kents on 12 July 1904 at Maidstone with two
good conduct badges and a very good character. He
intended then to live at 6 Clarendon Street, Dover.

He attested again as a Private, 3396, on 6 September
1904 for the Army Reserve, stating that he was married,
his wife being Agnes, and was a telephone wireman. He
was living at Jocelyn House, Clarendon Road, Dover. He
was struck off from the Reserve on 1 July 1906 for
failing to report in the June. It appears that in March
1905 his papers had been taken by a George Watts, who
obtained a suit and money from a Captain Cundy by
representing himself as Benjamin Brand. Mr Watts
received six months imprisonment with hard labour. Upon
the army trying to contact Benjamin in June 1906 for
further information at his given address in Redbourne,
near St Albans, their letters were returned as "gone
away"; his pay as a Reservist was then stopped.
Benjamin's mother had also been trying to contact her
son as she had been seriously ill, and appealed to the
army to forward his address to her. It is currently
unknown how he was employed until he rejoined to serve
in the Great War. Soldiers Died gives his residence at
Gravesend; he is commemorated on the war memorial at the
church of St Peter and St Paul, Milton-next-Gravesend.

Mrs Brand, on 1 September 1920, applied for the medals
for her son. Her address then was 9 Faith Street,
Sittingbourne. Mrs Brand died in Dover on 11 June 1924.
She is buried at St Mary's. Mr Brand died in 1932 in
Gravesend.

Brann, R. J.Richard Joseph Brann,
T/2443, was killed in action on 7th January 1916 at the age of 19 when serving
as a Private with the
5th battalion of the Buffs in the Persian Gulf.

An extract from the war diary that day reads: "D"
company returned from outpost at 6.0am and joined 2nd
line. Artillery fire started at 8am. Big engagement. We
advanced. Heavy casualties. Fight lasted until 6.0pm.
Took up fresh(?) position 200 yds in rear of original
firing line. Adjutant and other officers killed.
Colonel, 2nd in Command and others wounded. Heavy firing
at right from enemy."

Private Brann
was born at Charlton, Dover on 6th July. Living in
Dover, he was a
conductor on the Dover Corporation trams before
enlistment in Dover on 27th August 1914. He was sent to India in
October 1914.

He was the son of the late Mr Joseph
Brann and Mrs Brann, of Endeavour Place, Buckland,
Dover. He lies now at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq, XXXI B
12.

The poem below appeared in the Dover Express,
8 September 1916

To Private Richard Brann - killed in action January 18th(sic)
1916.

No cringing coward, but a strong
brave lad,Who fought his country's battles
like a man;With sturdy, stalwart comrades,
khaki-clad,He did his bit as only Britons can.

Such men as he keep England's fame
aliveKeep England's shores inviolate and
free;What nobler object shall a hero
strive?What nobler, greater object can
there be?

He might have scorned to hear the
bugles ring,He might have scorned the country's
urgent call;Better by far to die a man in
Spring,Than live and die a coward in the
Fall.

Not his the gilded tombstone,
glistening bright,His but a pile of stones, rough
wayside flints;But still at home, with mem'ries
clear and bright;His death will outlast marble's
pearly tint.

H. E. (a Schoolmate)transcription with thanks to Joyce Banks

Breeze, A. R.Alfred Richard Breeze, 400393,
was a Private in the 13th battalion of the Essex regiment. He was
killed in action on 30th November 1917 at Cambrai,
France, and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.

He
had been born at Buckland, Dover and lived there until 1912.
He lived in Tonbridge and enlisted there, and his
wife lived at 15 Albert Road, Tonbridge.

His brother Bertie served also, but survived, and on his return took
over Alfred's job at the draper's in the Co-operative. .

Postcards from France

To Dear Hilda, with
fondest love from Daddy 7.7.1917

Dear Hilda, with love from
Daddy
with fondest love and x to Mabel - Alfred

At the top of the second
card has been written, "Went the day well or
ill, We died and never knew, Well or ill,
England, We died for you"

Essex Regiment, France 1917. Mr
Breeze is second from left in the back row

The letter is dated April 6th 1918, and reads: "Dear
Madam, I deeply regret to say that we have a report
which seems to show that your husband must have lost
his life on November 30th. It comes from Pte E Webb,
28610, A Co, 4th Platoon, 13th Essex Regt, now in
hospital in France and is as follows:

"Breeze was close to me and I saw him get killed
just outside Lock 6 of the Cambrai Canal. We were
holding the Sunken Road, which runs parallel to the
Canal, and the Germans were advancing towards our
Company and it was just before they surrounded D.
Co. He was killed by a 5.9 and two or three more
were wounded with him. I was very pally with him
and he used to talk to me about his shop, a drapery
business, I think. He was medium height, with a dark
moustache, married, and drawing towards 40"

I ought to say that we never altogether rely on one
man's account, and therefore our enquiries about
your husband are still going on. We cannot help
fearing however that this report will prove to be
correct, and I should like to express our very
sincere sympathy. Yours faithfully, pz, for the Earl
of Lucas"
(We Remember 06)

with
thanks to Mr R Washford

Brett, C. M.Charles
Michael Brett, 47046, was born in Rochester, the son of
Edward George Brett and his wife Jane, née Wellard.
The couple had married in early 1894 at St John's,
Kingsdown. Mr Brett was then working for the customs.

In 1901 the family were at 4 Sutton Road, West Ham, with
three children born in Rochester; Charles, 1895, Lilian
Jane Abigail, about 1897, and William Frederick, 1900.
By 1911 the family were living in Dover, at 162
Clarendon Street. Charles had become a messenger for the
GPO, after having attended St Martin's school. There was
another daughter, Lydia Alice, born in 1905; two other
children had died young.

In 1917 Mr and Mrs Brett were living at 7 Longfield
Road, Dover. On 2 December that year, Charles, then
working for the Customs as Excise as had his father,
married Evelyn Violet Dyer, born 22 March 1899, at St
James church, Ryde, Isle of Wight. The couple probably
had a son the following year, Edward C A.

Charles enlisted at Ryde and became a Rifleman in the
3rd Company, 18th battalion of the King's Royal Rifle
Corps. He was 22 when he died on 3 October 1918 at the
Australian Clearing Station, France, from wounds
received the previous day. He is buried at the Haringhe (Bandaghem)
Military Cemetery, Belgium, III B 49; his effects were
returned to his widow, who lived at Myrtle Cottage,
Trinity Street, Ryde.

In 1939 Mrs Brett was living at 12 Trinity Street, Ryde;
also there was Cyril R Brett, born 31 July 1926. Mrs
Brett died in 1895.

"Dearer to memory than words can tell,
Are thoughts of the boy we loved so well."
Dad, Mum, Lil, Alice, Bill, and Tich - 1920

The Haringhe cemetery was called Bandaghem by the
Tommies. It is one of three, along with Dozinghem and
Mendinghem, that have nicknames of a Belgian flavour
reflecting the treatment given to injured soldiers
(Bandage Them, Dosing Them, Mending Them).

Brewer, A.Albert Brewer,
S/8278, was a Private in the 6th battalion of The Buffs. He
enlisted on 10 October 1906 at Canterbury, his address
then being 33 Edred Road, Dover. He
was killed in action on the Somme on 3
July 1916, and is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery,
France, VIII A 10

He was born at Buckland, Dover, and lived in Dover,
but enlisted at Shorncliffe. In late 1915 he married
Lillian May Elizabeth Ticehurst. His medals were sent to
her at 75 Kings Villas, South Road, Dover.

His father was Harold Goodwin Brewer, in 1901 a
bricklayer's labourer, also born in Dover. He lived with
his wife, Julia Ann, née Allery, whom he had married in
1885, at 7 Palmerston Cottages, Charlton, Dover, and
with them then were two children, Charles Stephen, aged
9, Beatrice Maud, aged 6, and William G, aged 1. Also
there was Mrs Brewer's father, Henry William Allery,
aged 55, a widower and journeyman tailor, born in London
like his daughter. He was, it appears, the father of
Henry Thomas Allery.

By 1911 the family were living at 33 Edred Road, Dover.
Mr Brewer had become a confectioner's traveller, and the
children at home in 1901 had been joined by sons Arthur,
23, a miner, and Albert, 21, a labourer. He had
previously been an errand boy. There were also two
daughters, Emily, 6, and Lucy, 9 months. A further
address for Harold Brewer was 46 St James Street.

Mrs Julia Brewer died on 11 August 1912 "after a long
and painful illness, patiently borne".

Photo by Jean Marsh. The headstone has
the initial "H" instead of "A"; all other details are
correct

Brice, G. F.George Frederick Brice,
7101, was one of thousands who have no known grave, and
he is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial in France
(pier and face 9c, 9d, 12c, 13c). He was a
Corporal in the 19th (County of London) battalion (St
Pancras) of the London Regiment (formerly 2823 2/4 The Buffs) and he died between 22nd September and 2nd October 1916 in France.

He was born in Waltham, Kent, but brought up in
Dover, and attended Barton Road school, after which he worked for
the East Kent light railway company. He enlisted in Dover.

He was mourned by his "sorrowing
sweetheart, Ivy" and his family. His father was Mr Brice of 31 Pretoria Terrace, Dover
(also John F. Brice, 65 Glenfield Road, Buckland, Dover)
and William Brice, below, was his brother.

Brice, W. C.William Charles Brice,
7115. He, like George above, who was his
brother, has no known grave and is commemorated in the
same place on the Thiepval
memorial in France, having served as a Private in the same
London regiment and having died in the same period. He
enlisted in Canterbury. He was also 2/4 Buffs, as number
2766.

He was born in Thannington, Kent, but was brought
up in Dover and attended Barton Road school. His
next-of-kin was John F. Brice, of 65 Glenfield Road,
Buckland, Dover.

Bridger, F. E.Frank Ernest Bridger
- there is an Ernest Frank Bridger, aged 4, in the 1901
census, which is the only known record of him. He was born at Marden, Kent, and was the son of
Thomas Bridger, a rural postman, and his wife, Frances.
He had an older brother (Cauford?) and a younger, John

There is an Ernest Frank Bridger, 17314, Lance Corporal
in the Machine Gun Corps, 9 Company, who died of wounds
on 28 July 1916. He is buried in the Abbeville Communal
cemetery, VI E 2.He enlisted in Southend and lived in
Stanford-le-Hope; however he was born at Kemsing, Kent.

Brightmore, H.Horace Brightmore,
9451.
He enlisted in Woolwich, and was a Company Sergeant Major in the 3rd battalion of
the Worcestershire Regiment. Already having been
wounded twice, he was killed, aged 28, by a sniper on 20 June
1915 in Flanders. He had been attempting to rescue two
officers who had already been hit by the sniper,
2nd Lieutenant Macade (probably Meade)*, who was killed, and
2nd Lieutenant
Barfoot, who had attempted to rescue 2nd Lieutenant Macade,
and who was mortally wounded. A fourth member of the
same regiment, Lance Sergeant Gordon, then attempted to aid
all three, and was himself killed. The order was then
given that the bodies would not be recovered until after
dark.

CSM Brightmore had been promoted just three days
before his death. He lived in West Ham, Essex, where he
had been born. He left a fiancée, Miss C(assandra?) Gilbert, who
lived at 14 Market Street, and whom he had met while
stationed in Dover. She was the daughter of William
Gilbert, a plumber, painter, paper-hanger, and
house-decorator, and his wife Annie.

Horace Brightmore is buried at the Hooge Crater
Cemetery, XVI H 1. Those who died with him were
Wakefield Waldo Meade*, 19 years old, buried at the
Sanctuary Wood cemetery, II F 34, George Allen Barfoot,
buried at Hooge Crater, XV H 14, and John Gordon, aged
20, commemorated on the Menin Gate.

*

The following is an extract from the
Westmeath Independent, June, 1915.

From the Front.
The Poisonous Gases. An Athlone Man's Letter.

Mr and Mrs Taylor, of Newtown Terrace, have received the
following letter from their son, Sergeant W Taylor,
Royal Irish Rifles, serving with the Expeditionary
Force;

In the Trenches.
B.E.Force, 25th May, '15.

Dear Father and Mother,
Just a few lines hoping all at home are enjoying good
health such as I am having at present. The weather here
is exceptionally good. I wish it was possible for you to
send the Shannon out here, as a swim would be
delightful, the weather is so warm. Well, at present, we
are having an easy time, I think the Huns presume we are
all dead, because you would not hear a shot from them.
They used that poisonous gas again last night, but we
defy all their murderous works now as our respirators
save us. They did not damage practically, but affected
some of our eyes, and, honestly, I thought mine were
going to fall out of my head they were that sore. The
eyes seem to swell up and you imagine you have eyes like
some great monster. At least that is how I felt. When I
get the Huns in the open I shall teach them a bit of my
gymnastic course experiences in the way of bayonet
fighting. You nee not send any more cakes for some time,
but I would be thankful for some lemonade powders. Tell
Dolly, Sergeant Brightmore of the Worcesters, has been
wounded again. She will remember that he was the chap I
brought her to see in the hospital when she was in
Dublin. We are all longing to see the Italians up this
way. Now that Italy has declared war I expect Rumania
and Greece will soon be on our side. Ah, well, the more
the merrier. If any more nations come into it we shall
forget our nationality, for, between German, French,
Belgian, Algerian, and a couple others we won't know
what language to speak. Give my kindest regards to all
friends and I must now draw my letter to a close with
warmest love to yourselves, brothers and sisters,
and remain, dear Father and Mother,
your loving son.
Willie.

letter with thanks to Thomas Burnell

Note: On 3 October
1927, Miss Gilbert married at St Mary's church, Percival
Beer Metcalfe. The couple were living at 24 Queens
Gardens, Dover, when Mr Metcalfe died at Kent and
Canterbury Hospital on 5 January 1946, aged 46. He had,
during the war, served as a War Reserve Police
Constable, and when he became ill had been working in
the Admiralty Civil Police. He is buried at St Mary's
cemetery. Mrs Metcalfe died in Dover in 1985.

Brinkworth, J. W.John William Brinkworth,
CH/20337, was in the Royal Marines Light Infantry, at
Deal. He is buried in the cemetery there, in grave
reference 2. 1346. He died of pneumonia on 15th January
1916, aged 18.

He was the son of John C. and Ellen E. Brinkworth of 58 Longfield Road, Dover.
They may have been John Christopher Brinkworth, aged 30
in 1901, a Sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery,
born in Malta, and his wife Ellen, aged 25, born in
Deal. They were living in Newhaven, Sussex, and at that
time had three children, John W. Brinkworth, aged 3,
born in Gravesend, as was his younger sister, Ellen,
then one, and Henry, aged 5, born in Sheerness. When
John died his father was notified at 71 Longfield Road.

There is a burial record on 12 March
for John Christopher Brinkworth, an Army Pensioner aged
69, of 9 Longfield Road, at St James 18 DR

census with thanks to
Joyce Banks

Broadbridge, L.Lionel
Arthur Broadbridge,
240883, was an Old Pharosian, and is commemorated on the
memorial window at his school, Dover Grammar. He was a
Serjeant in the 7th battalion of the Buffs. He was
killed in action on
7th August 1918, at the age of 26, being buried in the
Beacon cemetery, Sailly-Laurett, France, II D 5.

The son
of Jane Broadbridge of 21 Richmond Avenue Merton Park
London and of the late Captain Broadbridge (HMS Monarch),
he was born at Leytonstone, London. He lived in Woking,
Surrey, and before enlisting at Guildford he worked as a clerk in the London, County, and
Westminster Bank.

Brockman, A.Albert Brockman,
G/40914, was a Private in the 4th battalion of the
(Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regiment (formerly
2359 Royal West Kent Regiment). He enlisted in Dover. When he
was killed in action at the age of 29 on
28th April 1917 he left a widow, Mary Tucker Brockman,
who lived at 35, Longfellow Road, Dover. He is
commemorated on the Arras memorial in France.

His mother, Mrs
A. Brockman, lived at The Buttway, Cliffe-at-Hoo,
Rochester, Kent, and he was born in Tiverton, Devon.

Bromley, C. P. J.Cecil Percy John Bromley,
1312, was a Serjeant (Pilot) in the 7th Squadron of the
Royal Flying Corps. He died on 2nd November 1916, when
he was 20, and is commemorated on the Arras Flying
Services Memorial in France. His parents were
Percy Robert and Amelia
Augusta Bromley,
who lived at 85 High St., Dover. Percy Bromley died on
26 May 1934, then of 4 Bartholomew Street.

Cecil Bromley was one of
the casualties featured in the "Unknown Warrior 90th
Anniversary" project, supported by the Heritage
Lottery Fund. Educational resources ('pdf) are
here.

If you have any more information
about Cecil Bromley, or are a relative, pleasecontact us

Bromley, G. J.Gordon John Bromley, 3697, was a Private
in the Infantry, 1st battalion, of the Australian
Imperial Force.

He
was born at Dover, and signed his attestation in New
South Wales, Australia, on 1 August 1915. The nominal
roll shows him as having joined on 24 July, and gives
his middle name as "Joseph". On enlistment he was
described as 5 feet seven inches tall, with hazel eyes,
brown hair, a ruddy complexion, and weighing ten stone.
He had been employed as a clerk.

He left Sydney on 11 December 1915 on RMS Mooltan, and disembarked at Marseilles on 28 March
1916. On 12 May 1916 he was admitted to hospital with a
hernia, and was sent to England for further hospital
treatment and convalescence. He returned to Etaples in
France on 17 September 1916, rejoining his battalion on
30 September.

Reported as wounded and missing in
action on 5 November 1916, he was deemed to have been
killed in action by a court of enquiry held on 22
November 1917. There are different accounts of how he
met his death. One from James Warne, serving in the same
battalion, stated that he had been informed by a man
named Chandler, since killed, that Private Bromley (aged
around 26) had "passed through the dressing station on 5
November, after the engagement at Flers. I believe he
was badly wounded in the head and arms, as far as I
remember". (Note: the eye-witness was probably Arthur
Chandler, of the Medical Corps, killed on 3 March 1917)

Another account from Sergeant Major
Moscoll(?), who said he knew Private Bromley well,
stated that he had been killed by a shell, but that it
had been impossible to retrieve his body until two
months afterwards, when the enemy retired. Segreant
Major Moscoll, who had been Private Bromley's Platoon
Sergeant, stated that Private Bromley had been
subsequently buried in the Military Cemetery at Flers,
and that he had seen a cross being made for the grave.
He had not seen the grave himself. Another informant,
Private Longland, stated that the grave was near a
trench, while a further account stated that it was 450
north north west of Gaudicourt (sheet 57 C LW N20
D13.7?).

He added that Private Bromley's family were from
Dover, and his father kept a hotel. Private Bromley's
father, John, was the proprietor of the King's Head,
Dover, from 1876 until his death on25 March 1919, whereupon his
second wife, Evangelina, took over until her own death
in 1933.* In 1891, the census records also Lena Dorothy,
younger sister of Private Bromley. John Bromley's first
marriage was to Annie Elizabeth Mackenzie in 1877 at St
Peter and St Paul, Charlton; she died in 1885.

Private Matthias described Private
Bromley as having a moustache. He stated that he he had
been within a few yards of Private Bromley when he was
killed instantly by machine gun at night in no man's
land. The body was left behind when they were forced to
retire.

However, Private Lockyer stated that
Private Bromley went missing on the day they went over
the top to attack a trench on the right of Flers. He
added that Private Bromley was away for five or six
weeks, rejoining them when they were at St Saviours, and
described him as clean-shaven, about 26 and single, from
New South Wales.

Private Bromley was married in 1907
at Camden to Alice
Bertha Jones, who lived at 476 Crown Street, Surry
Hills, Sydney. She died in January 1917. A duplicate
attestation form states that Private Bromley had no
other relatives but a half-sister, Mrs E E Mousley,
of Bank Drive, Lutterworth,
Leicester. This was Elizabeth Ellen Bromley, who in 1898
married George Mousley. The medals were forwarded to
her, as a letter dated 18 January 1922 from Australia
House in The Strand, London, stated that both Private
Bromley's parents were deceased..

Private Bromley is commemorated on the Villers
Bretonneux memorial

*
according to "By the Way", the Kent public house website
by Paul Skelton

Brooks, S. J.Sidney or
Sydney James Brooks,
G/18227, enlisted in Dover and became a Private in the 1st battalion of
The Queen's
(Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was killed in action on 3 May 1917,
at the age of 24. He is commemorated on the Arras
memorial in France, bay 2.

Sidney was
born in Margate in 1892 to John Brooks and his wife
Eliza. He was one of twelve children, five of whom had
died before 1911. In 1901 Mr and Mrs Brooks were at 164
London Road, Dover. Mr Brooks was a basket maker. At
home with them were Sidney and Doris, then aged 2. By
1911 Mrs Brooks was a widow, and at 119 Heathfield
Avenue with her married daughter Agnes Gard and
granddaughter Ethel Agness, and her daughter Doris and
son Edward, aged 6. Sidney meanwhile was at 10
Worthington Street, in the home of William Thomas Beer,
a hairdresser, and working as an assistant hairdresser.

In 1915
Sidney married Mary Harriet Emily King, the daughter of
George and Sarah King. His effects were returned to her
after his death. At some time after his death she lived
at 15 Wood Street.

In 1929 Mary Brooks married Frederick W
Wildish. Ten years later they were living at the
Gardener's Cottage, Biggleswade. Mrs Wildish's date of
birth was given as 10 September 1893; her christening
record at Charlton on 9 November and birth registration
however have the year as 1892. Mr Wildish was born on 28
March 1898.

Brown, A.Alfred Brown,
K/17384, was a 1st Class Stoker in the Royal Navy,
serving on HMS Formidable.
Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, he was lost
in
the English Channel off Devon on New Year's Day, 1915
after the vessel was torpedoed by submarine U24.

Born
on 27 March 1893 at Dover, and aged
21 when he died, he was the eldest son of Henry and Marion
Brown, née Loram, of 11, Winchelsea St., Dover. In 1901
the family were living at 11 Victoria Street, Dover, and
Mr Brown was working as a general labourer. Alfred was
then aged 8, and he had a younger brother, Walter, 5,
and a younger sister, Winifred, 3.

The Formidable was
noted as the first British battleship lost in the Great
War, and two thirds of her 750 strong crew were lost.

Brown, G. A.George Ambrose Brown,
306510, was the husband of Laura May Brown when he was
killed in action on 15 October 1914. He was a Petty
Officer Stoker, and his vessel, HMS Hawke, was
torpedoed by submarine U9. The second torpedo hit the
magazine and the vessel sank rapidly. This loss was but
a month after the destruction of the "Live Bait"
Squadron, and now ships accompanying vessels struck were
under orders not to rescue survivors in the water, for
fear that they too would be destroyed.

Born on 1 March 1885, George was the son of Joseph
Brown, a steam ship stoker, and his wife, Phoebe. In
1891 the family were living at 5 Tower Hamlets Road,
Dover. Also there were George's elder brother, Ernest,
5, and his younger brother, Walter, 2. Mr Brown
died at the age of 33 in 1893, and Mrs Brown remarried.
In 1901 she was living at 10 St Andrews Terrace, Dover,
with her second husband, Chris Woods, a general
labourer. Her sons George and Walter were there, with
their sister, Phoebe, 9, and two other children, Louisa
Woods, 6, and Ann Woods, 4.

George is commemorated on the Chatham Naval memorial.
His wife was notified of his death at 25 Albany Place,
Dover. She later remarried, and became Mrs Pearce,
living at 17 Selbourne Terrace, Dover.

*Brown, R.Robert Brown, G/42932, was born in Knowle
Hill, Berkshire, and lived at Addlestone, Surrey. He
enlisted in Dover and became a Private in the 16th
battalion (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regiment.
He was killed in action on 9th October 1917, and is
commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium.

He was the son of Edward and Eleanor Brown, of 3,
Hexton Villas, South Ascot, Berks.

photo Jean Marsh

Brown, R.Richard Fritz Brown,
10318, was born on
14 February 1896 and christened at Holy Trinity on 28
May. His parents, Fritz and Esther Brown (née Heath)
were then living at 5 Chapel Court, with Mr Brown
working as a mate on the barque Tongoy. The couple were
married at the same church on 27 June 1893, when Mr
Brown had been a made on the brig Saffron.

By 1901 the
family were living at Chalk Villas, Hardwicke Road, and
Mr Brown was working in the mines. They then had three
children; Maud Esther Catherine, born 17 November 1894,
Richard, and Herbert Arthur, born 28 May 1890.

On 24 August
1901 at about 4 in the morning Mr Brown slipped and fell
to his death in the no 2 pit of Dover Colliery. He was a
pumpman and had been working some 940 feet below ground
and helping lower a pump. He had been attempting to take
off the engine rope, but instead of going down in the
cage to do so had climbed down a cable. He had been
holding on with his hands and with his toes just in the
links when he slipped and fell some 117 feet further
down the shaft, striking something on the way down about
fifteen feet about the water. He fell
backwards into the water, which was some 35 feet deep.
Although his colleague immediately attempted a rescue,
Mr Brown could not be found and his body was later, at
1pm, recovered by grapples by his brother-in-law
Richard Heath.

Mr Brown's address was 2 Milton Villas, Shakespeare
Road, also the address of Richard Heath. In 1907 Mrs
Brown was at Milton Villas alone when a lad entered,
possibly with felonious intent. In 1908 Mrs Brown
(indexed as Braun) remarried in Dover, to Robert Henry
Rye, a general labourer. In 1911 they were living with
Esther's three children at 24 Seven Star Street. Richard
had become a waggon greaser.

Mrs Rye moved to Woolwich, where Robert enlisted. He
served as a Private, 10318, in the 7th battalion of the
Royal Fusiliers. He died from wounds on 29 May 1917,
when he was 21, and is buried in the Lijssenthoek
Military Cemetery, Belgium, XII B 34. At the foot of his
headstone are the words, "Rest in the Lord".

Brown, V. A. E.Victor Albert E. Brown,
23410, was an Old Pharosian and is commemorated on the
memorial window at his school, the Dover Grammar. He was
a Corporal in the Lancashire Fusiliers, and died on 1st
July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. He is commemorated
on the Thiepval memorial in France.

In 1897 he was born in Dover, and enlisted
there, but lived in
Sheffield. His next of kin
was George Brown, who lived at 54 Monins Road, Dover.
This was probably his father, a railway engine driver.

Note: A Victor Brown, born 24 May
1895 and clerk at Bradby Bros, enlisted into the Dover
Anti-Aircraft Corps when it was formed in October 1914,
and went into action as an Able Seaman in the RNVR
manning the searchlights to protect Dover. There is a
record of his serving at B Crew, No 3 Co (Langdon Camp),
and of obtaining the second lowest score of his crew
(32/100) in a rifle competition between Langdon A and B.
. He was the
youngest member of the Corps, and (perhaps) has the sad
distinction of being the only ex-member of the Dover
anti-aircraft corps to be killed during the war.

anti-aircraft details with thanks to Phil
Eyden

Brown, W. C.William Charles Brown
was called up when the Great War began. He was a
reservist, having left the Royal West Kents in 1911.
Given
his commission in 1917, he was a Lieutenant in the 387th
Siege Battery, the 103rd Brigade, Royal Garrison
Artillery.

Lieutenant Brown was 29 when he died just before the
Armistice on 7 November 1918. He had contracted
dysentery in the trenches, and was sent home to recover.
Sadly he developed pneumonia and died a month later at
Sandy Lane VAD. He is buried at St Paul's, in Rusthall,
Tunbridge Wells. His parents,
William and Alice lived at Rusthall, at 38 Erskine Park
Road. They had three further sons serving, all of whom
survived.

Lieutenant Brown's wife,
Emma Elizabeth Brown, née Bonnage (above, right), lived at 22 Templar
Street, Dover. She later moved to 19
Union Road, Dover. She was born at 3 Magdala
Road, and
the couple had married in Dover in 1908. Mrs Brown was
aunt to Arthur Ackehurst.

After Lieutenant
Brown's death Mrs Brown brought up their
three sons, Peter, Stanley, and Leslie (left), on her
own. In photographs of her until her death
in 1949, aged 59, she wears a locket (above,
right). Inside were two miniature pictures of her late husband.

Engraved on Lt Brown's
headstone at St Paul's are the words, "In proud
and loving memory of my dear husband William
Charles Brown, Lt, RGA, beloved son of William
and Alice Brown, died Nov 7 1918, aged 29 years.
At Rest. Also of Frederick Walter Brown, died
June 10th 1966, aged 76."

Lt Brown is also remembered
on a scroll inside the church, above, and on the
memorial outside.

*

Leslie Brown became a keen
swimmer and member of the Dover Lifeguards club,
gaining many trophies for individual and team
events.

In 1955 he was awarded the
George medal for saving, with Lt-Cdr A E Burton,
a badly-injured man trapped by an explosion in
July 1954 in an ammunition store in Malta.
Mr Brown's citation states, "He was risking his
life in continuing to work in the building when
he was aware that another explosion might have
taken place at any moment and when the increased
intensity of the fire caused other personnel to
cease work".

with thanks to Barbara Hall

Brown, W. J.William James Brown,
S/13654, was a Rifleman in the Rifle Brigade. He was 41
when he died on 17th September 1919. His widow, Maria Brown, of 30 Granville
Street, Dover, later 13 Spring Gardens, buried him at Buckland, Dover.

Browning, E. O.Easter Oliphant Browning,
L or C/8205, was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
He was 28 when he was killed in action on 9 May 1915 as
part of the BEF, and is
commemorated on the Le Touret memorial.

He enlisted and lived in Dover, and, born in Paddington, was the son
of .Mrs A M Browning, née Oliphant, of 120
London Road, Buckland, Dover, and brother of Thomas,
below.

Browning,
T. J.
Thomas Jekin/Jaken Browning, 23835, was a Sergeant of the
1st battalion of Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own
(Yorkshire Regiment) died
from wounds received in action on 20th March 1916, in
India. He is buried in the Kut War Cemetery, Iraq, E 7.

He
was formerly of the Royal Sussex Regiment, but bought
himself out of that regiment while serving in India. He
enlisted in India, at Rawalpindi.

Born and living originally in Dover, he
was the son of Mr and Mrs W H Browning of 20 York
Street, Dover, and brother to Easter above.

Bruce, H. K.Harry Kendall
Walpole Bruce was an Indian Major, in the 2nd King
Edward's Own Gurkha Rifles (Sirmoor Rifles). He was 37
when he died on 1st February 1917, and is buried at
Amara in Iraq. He was the son of Lieutenant General Le Geyt
Bruce, KCB, and Lady Bruce.

*Brunton, E. W.Edward William Brunton/Braunton,
52673, was a Private in the 32nd battalion of the Royal
Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (formerly 36378 in
the 2nd Royal Scots). He was killed in action on 7th
June 1917 when he was 25, and is buried in the Bus House
cemetery in Belgium, B 22.

He was born in Tottenham, and enlisted and lived in
Shepherd's Bush. His mother was Mrs Amelia Brunton
of 3 Loftus Road, Shepherd's Bush, London

*Burley, H.This may be
Henry Burley, 276014, who was born at Battersea, London
on 5 December
1870. He was a Chief Stoker, and had obtained a long
service and good conduct medal.

His parents were John and Louisa Burley of Wandsworth,
London. Mr Burley was in 1881 a boilermaker's labourer,
and Mrs Burley a laundress. At home too were sons
Thomas, 18, a carman, Arthur, 13, Alfred, 12, and Henry,
9, and daughters Rose, 7, and Lottie, 4. The family were
living at 14 Barkleigh Street, Battersea. By 1891 Mrs
Burley was widowed, and the family had moved to 35
Pitcairn Street, Clapham. Henry had become a locomotive
fireman. There too were his brothers William, 30, a
chair caner who had become blind at 16, and James, 24.

In 1901 Henry was boarding at 10 King Street, Portsea,
and was working as a mechanical stoker. He died from
disease on 22 January 1915, and is buried at Gillingham
Woodlands, Naval 18, grave 927. At the foot of his
headstone are the words, "The souls of the righteous are
in the hand of God".

He left a widow, Rose
Burley, of the Four Oaks Cottages, Luddenham, Faversham,
formerly 34 Ranleigh Road, Twyford, Portsmouth.

Burnett, G. H.George Harold
Burnett, probably known as Harold, was
born in Dover in 1894 and was the third son of Luke
Burnett and his wife Mary Elizabeth, née Giles, of 2 Albert Road, Dover.
The couple had married in 1886 after Mr Burnett's first
wife Sarah, née Curtis, had died at the age of 30 in
1880. Mr Burnett then had one son, Frederick William,
born about 1878. He became a Trinity Pilot according to
Mr Burnett's will in 1928 (Mr Burnett died on 8 February
and is buried at Charlton).

By 1891 the
Burnetts had moved from the London area to Dover, living
at 5 East Cliff, and Mr Burnett had changed his
occupation from gasfitter to water inspector, working
for the corporation. Their son Walter Ernest was born in
Dover in 1887, and Arthur Stanley followed in about
1890. The household kept two domestic servants/nurses.
By 1911 the family had moved to 7 Guilford Lawn, and
George was working as a junior clerk for the Admiralty.
Mrs Burnett was apparently working as an apartment
housekeeper.

George was
working in Rugby as a draughtsman for British
Thomson-Houston at the beginning of the Great War. He
enlisted on the outbreak and became 42243, a Sapper in the 70th Field
Company, Royal Engineers. He was 26 when he was killed
in action on 24 September 1918. He is buried at Villers Hill British Cemetery, Villers-Guislain. France,
III A 2.

At the bottom
of his headstone are the words, "Thy Will Be Done".

Burrows, H. B.Henry Basil Burrows,
75373, is commemorated on the Salem Baptist Church Roll
of Honour. He was a Private in the 13th Battalion of the Royal
Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (formerly 5637 of
the East Surrey Regiment), and died on 7th June 1918, at
the Third General Hospital, Treport, France, after undergoing a
leg amputation made
necessary by severe wounds on April 6. He is buried at Mont Huon
Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.

He was born on 1st October 1885 at 162 Clarendon Place,
Dover. In the picture on the right it is the house
painted orange. His parents were Henry Burrows, a tailor
journeyman, and Emma, (née Sheppard). On 24 March 1913
he married Flora Lily Kettle at the Salem Chapel, Biggin
Street. She came from 244 Folkestone Road, but he by
then was living at Shoreham Lodge, Granville Road,
Sevenoaks, working as a tailor's assistant.

He was still living in Sevenoaks when he enlisted. When
he was killed his wife was living at "Wisteria",
56 Bradbourne Road. Her father, William, formerly a
grocer and then a food inspector, and mother (probably
Sarah Jane, née Mullins) were then living at Ruskin
Cottage, Minerva Avenue, Dover. "Loved by
all."

Henry is also commemorated also on the Sevenoaks
memorial.

The inscription at the bottom of Henry
Burrows' headstone at Mont Huon reads:
"never forgotten by his loving wife Lily of
Sevenoaks, Kent, England"

June 1918

with thanks to David Irving

Bushell, A. G.
Albert George Bushell was born on 21 October 1889
in Dover, the son of William M. Bushell and his wife
Emma. In 1891 the family were living at 18 Albany Place
and Mr Bushell was working as an ironmonger's porter.
There were then four children in the family; Mabel
Clara, aged 10, and Ellen, aged 8, both born in
Marylebone, London, and William, 4, and Albert, 2, both
born in Dover.

By 1901 Mrs Bushell was a widow, and with a fifth child,
Edith, then aged 8. The family were living at 1
Woolcomber Lane, and Mrs Bushell was working as a
charwoman. William was a greengrocer boy at the port.

Albert joined the Royal Navy, and became K443, a Petty
Officer Stoker. He died on 9 July 1917, serving with HMS
Vanguard. His mother was living at 1 Maison
Dieu Road, Dover, when she was informed of his death.

Mabel in 1903 married Charles Morecraft. In 1924, living
at 69 Clarendon Street, she asked for Albert's name to
be put on the Town Memorial. He is also commemorated on
the Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 23.

Butcher, J. W.John William Butcher,
27449, enlisted in London and was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the
Princess Charlotte of Wales' Royal Berkshire
Regiment (formerly 2587 of the Rifle Brigade). He died
of wounds at the age of 25 on 24th September
1916. He is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery,
in France

Born at Charlton, Dover, and living in Dover, he was the son of H. F.
and M. A. Butcher of 46 Eaton Road, Dover.

Butler, R. E. H.Robert Edward Hubbard Butler, K20676,
was a 1st class
Stoker, who died on 9 July 1917 while serving in the
Royal Navy on HMS Vanguard. He is commemorated on
the Chatham Memorial in the United Kingdom. The Vanguard suddenly exploded at Scapa Flow forty minutes before midnight, and it is
probable that a fire detonated her magazine. Most of the
800 or 900 men on board were lost.

Born on 20 February 1894 at
Sittingbourne, he was the son of Eliza Harriet Burrows,
née Hubbard, of 12 Widred Road,
Dover; Robert's father was Albert Butler, a
waggoner on a farm; the couple had married in 1893 at St
Mary's Teynham.

In 1901 Robert was a visitor at 30
Widred Road, as was his sister, Emily Adelaide ("Ciss"),
born 30 October 1896. This was
the home of Frederick Burrows or Barrows, a sanitary cart driver.
Robert's mother was then a servant, domestic
housekeeper. A
further visitor was Louisa Miles, aged 8.

By 1911 Mr
Barrows had moved to 54 Widred Road where Robert's
mother continued housekeeping. Robert had become a
carter, and had presumably been named after his
grandfather, as also in the household was Robert
Hubbard, aged 75, a widower, who by then had also
suffered the loss of eight of his fifteen children.
Robert Edward's mother is noted as having been married 19
years, and having had four children, of whom one had
died. This was David Muir Butler, who died at the age of
8 months, and was buried from 41 Tower Hamlets Street on
18 July 1900 from the parish of St Bartholomew,
Charlton, Dover. The fourth child was probably Frederick
Leonard Barrows Butler, who was born on 3 November 1906
and baptised on 8 December at St Mary's. In 1916
Robert's mother was living at 11 Widred Road.

Emily, Robert's sister, married
Charles Henry Marsh at the Wesleyan Chapel in Snargate
Street, Dover. They married on 3 July 1917, just six
days before Robert lost his life.

Buttifint, H. W.
Henry William Buttifint served in the Buffs. He was 25 when he was killed in action on 25th
September 1916. His father lived at 59 Lowther Road,
Tower Hamlets, Dover.

He is
recorded in the CWGC and Soldiers Died as Henry William
Butterfield, S/9721, a Private in the 1st battalion of
The Buffs, killed in action on 25th September 1916. He
is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, 5D

He
was born in Kearsney (1901 census says River), and
enlisted at Dover, and he lived at Tower Hamlets.